First lady surprises prayer partner
Visits wife of pastor who aided spiritually
WEST COLUMBIA, S.C. — Jill Biden on Sunday returned to the South Carolina Baptist church where she says she began to repair her relationship with God following her son’s death from brain cancer six years ago.
The first lady quietly flew to West Columbia for a surprise appearance at the 50th anniversary celebration for Pastor Charles B. Jackson Sr. of Brookland Baptist Church.
But she ended up giving one of the most extensive explanations yet of how her faith wavered after Beau Biden’s death and how she found her way back to God with help from her prayer partner — Robin Jackson, the pastor’s wife.
Biden praised Charles Jackson for presiding over a ministry that helps feed the hungry, provides college scholarships and runs a health and wellness program.
“You brought countless people to God’s grace,” she told him. “You remind us that we are the body of Christ.”
The Bidens’ son Beau, who was 46, married and had two young children, died of brain cancer in 2015. The first lady has said she prayed and prayed that he would live, and was devastated when her prayers went unanswered and he died.
Four years later, she had that chance encounter with Robin Jackson.
“Every Wednesday, Robin would text Dr. Jill to let her know she had called their names in prayer,” the city’s newsletter said in January 2021.
Jill Biden told talk-show host Kelly Clarkson in February 2021 that regular contact with Robin Jackson had made a difference.
The White House did not publicly announce Sunday’s trip and the first lady flew, apparently by coincidence, on an unmarked D.C. Air National Guard airplane.